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Itinerary

Introduction to Gran Canaria

Meet your guides at the airport and settle in for a short transfer. We’ll arrive at our first hotel and gather for a light lunch, followed by a bike fitting to get acquainted with our gear for the week. Our first ride is a warm-up that introduces us to the island’s spectacular beauty and limbers us up for the challenges that lie ahead. Our first dinner together will be at our hotel.

Competing for the KOM

Today’s out-and-back ride starts with a short descent from the hotel, followed by seven rolling miles along the coast. Once we find our pace, we’ll veer towards the island’s interior to tackle the second stage: a 13-mile climb with one cruel 160-foot section at 14.5%. The KOM segment stands between us and the village of Soria, and the final three miles through the hamlet of Las Filipinas will be a true test of will. In Soria, we’ll rehydrate with fresh fruit juice—a ritual for every cyclist who finishes this ride. The promise of a massage keeps us cycling back to the hotel. Tonight, we’ll take it easy and stay close to home, dining once more at the hotel.

Where the Pros Go

This morning we set out from the arid volcanic coast around Maspalomas and head towards the lush hilltop village of San Bartolomé de la Tirajana. This route is a favorite of teams like Movistar and Trek Segafredo—with any luck, we might catch them out for a ride and try to keep up for a few kilometers. Consider this climb in thirds: the first and last sections are demanding, but the middle bit through the Fataga valley provides some recovery time. After a café break, it’s a soaring downhill all the way to sea level, chock-full of unbelievable views. We’ll stop en route for lunch in the charming town of Santa Lucía, and head back to the hotel where ice-cold beers and the infinity pool await. Tonight’s dinner will be a laid-back barbecue, perfect comfort food after a hard day’s work.

Above the Clouds in Tenerife

We’ll catch an early flight from Gran Canaria to the next-door island of Tenerife, followed by a short van transfer right to the start of our ride. There’s no doubt that today’s climb to volcanic Mount Teide is the highlight of the week. Though the crater itself reaches 12,000 feet, the road tops out at a mere 7,700 feet—a favorite of pro teams like Sky and Bahrain Merida, and riders including Wiggins and Froome. The conditions can’t be matched: near-perfect pavement, a sustained grade of 7-8%, and zero competition with traffic. You know we’ve reached some altitude when we pass the Izaña Observatory (one of the most important in Europe), and our legs will really start working as we reach the Parador hotel, a buzzing base camp for cyclists. Wrap up with a long and technical descent to our boutique hotel in the 16th-century town of Garachico. After lunch, your afternoon is wide open for exploring the town, treating yourself to a massage, or scouting a restaurant for tonight’s dinner on your own.

The Hidden Valley

Start the day with a gentle spin to appreciate the scenery, full of tidy homes and tropical banana plantations on the western coastline of Tenerife. In the town of Buenavista del Norte, we turn inland and make our way up to Masca, staying at 7-8% for a good seven miles. Ask any cyclist you bump into on Tenerife—this area is regarded as the best place to train. At the top, recover with a well-earned coffee break on a panoramic terrace, peering down at the village of Masca just below. In 1496, Masca was the last refuge of the indigenous Guanche people against invading Spaniards. The Spanish may have conquered the island, but few cyclists will conquer the climb out of the Masca valley—today will separate the sheep from the goats, so to speak. Depending on how we’re feeling, we can hang in there for a long, luxurious descent back to Garachico. Tonight we’ll toast to our feats over fresh seafood at our friend Angel’s restaurant.